Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
The topic of suffering from lack of motivation has come up a lot in many forums I've read so far since I joined daily strength a week ago. I have found tools and methods of working with depression to overcome my own desire to withdraw from life. This suffering has stopped me from following through with things I want and need to do. I have big dreams that are attainable. But I can't follow through with the list of things to do to get me there and then I feel worse about myself because I didn't get things done. It stacks on the guilt, fear and self-hatred.
Deep inside, I know I have to work on depression awareness. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and in the beginning of depression recovery and want to know how I can be aware of having depression without pounding myself for it. I know I can make a list of things to do today, but the negative voice is going to come and try to slam me. That is inevitable, I know, but I still fear it. I don't want to hurt like this. So I don't want to make the list. The disease has progressed to the point where I am extremely disorganized. I go to work and pay my bills, exercise but the fun and aspiring to all the greater things I want to accomplish is not happening. My social life can use an all around tune up and my love life has been on pause for four years. I am struggling to make artwork which is something I love to do. Sometimes i sell it. But rarely. It takes a ton of strength just to lift my hand so when I do sell it, it feels like I won the Pulitzer prize. I feel like a slug but I need to start somewhere. Please share anything if you have or if you are presently suffering from lack of motivation and disorganization, what you do about it or how you recovered from it.
Deep inside, I know I have to work on depression awareness. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and in the beginning of depression recovery and want to know how I can be aware of having depression without pounding myself for it. I know I can make a list of things to do today, but the negative voice is going to come and try to slam me. That is inevitable, I know, but I still fear it. I don't want to hurt like this. So I don't want to make the list. The disease has progressed to the point where I am extremely disorganized. I go to work and pay my bills, exercise but the fun and aspiring to all the greater things I want to accomplish is not happening. My social life can use an all around tune up and my love life has been on pause for four years. I am struggling to make artwork which is something I love to do. Sometimes i sell it. But rarely. It takes a ton of strength just to lift my hand so when I do sell it, it feels like I won the Pulitzer prize. I feel like a slug but I need to start somewhere. Please share anything if you have or if you are presently suffering from lack of motivation and disorganization, what you do about it or how you recovered from it.
Are you on meds? Do you do talk therapy? These things help me quite a lot.
The fact that you are aware of your clinical depression and are starting to recognize when it "takes over" is quite an achievement in itself. So many people never get as far as you have in dealing with it. If you work, pay the bills, and exercise despite how you often feel, that is also a major achievement to be proud of. Many people are not able to do these things at all.
Depression awareness can grow over time, and it sounds like you are already on the path. I am a very impatient person, so I have mixed feelings talking about patience, but in any case perhaps you can learn to not be so hard on yourself. You have already come a long way. If there are things you are not doing that are more important to you than exercise, maybe you need to reconsider your priorities. Even if you never had depression, there are only so many hours in a day, and non-depressed people also get sluggish from over-work, and do not get around to the things they really want to do. So perhaps think about what would make you happiest that you are not making time for, and see if you can problem--solve.
I hope you have a good day.
I work easier when I am alone. I don't need someone riding me and making me feel useless or hopeless. Our friends and family sometimes make things worse, as they don't understand the depression can make us want to go to bed and hide under the covers.
Nothing sends me into a depressive nose dive more then being insulted and treated like an incompetent idiot. I mean "Geez...no one can do the dishes?" Sometimes, I look at the mess, walk away and say why bother?
Keep a separate calender for important dates when bills are due etc. It is depressing when we forget to do something important. It clutters our thoughts with something that should not have become a problem.
So...make your doable list...do the best you can...be proud of what you have accomplished. Do it for you because now you have something to feel good about.